Steve Benen: …. In his remarks in the White House briefing room, the president noted that, as a candidate, he “pledged to bring the war in Iraq to a responsible end.”

It’s a commitment he’s been able to keep.

….Perhaps realizing what’s on the minds of American voters, the president added he intends to “enlist our veterans in the greatest challenge that we face as a nation: creating opportunity and jobs in this country. After a decade of war, the nation that we need to build — and the nation that we will build, is our own. An America that sees its economic strength restored, just as we restored our leadership around the world.”

It looks another check mark on the president’s “promises made, promises kept” list.

President Barack Obama talks with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki of Iraq during a secure video teleconference in the Situation Room of the White House, Oct. 21, 2011 (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

****

****

National Journal: The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee outraised the National Republican Congressional Committee during September by nearly $3 million, and also bested the GOP during the third fundraising quarter, according to spending reports filed Thursday evening with the Federal Election Commission.

The DCCC raised $6.64 million last month, compared to the NRCC’s $3.8 million. Even out of the House majority, the Democratic House campaign arm also raised more during the past three months, bringing in $14.22 million to the NRCC’s $10.68 million.

Annie Lowrey (Slate): The economy seems to be recovering …. Everything is getting better. No, no, I know … it certainly doesn’t feel as if things are getting better.

…. Even so, a spate of new data suggest that the trends, at the least, might be looking up for now, and the possibility of a double-dip recession might be fading.

… The good news comes in construction. This month, housing starts smashed expectations, jumping 15 percent … The jump in construction means both an increased willingness to invest on business’ part and a probable uptick in hiring for construction workers.

…. Retail sales climbed strongly from August to September, with an upward revision for the summer months, too. Americans spent 7.9 percent more this September than last September. What are we buying? More of everything. But we are really picking up cars. Auto sales hit an annual sales pace of 13.1 million vehicles last month, up a whopping 10 percent.

Next, jobs … fewer people are applying for initial jobless benefits, implying that the overall unemployment rate might drop soon. Industrial production also seems to be firming up. The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, for instance, reported that its business activity index climbed from -17.5 in September (recession!) to 8.7 in October (expansion!).

… The most important numbers show signs of life as well. Gross domestic product, measured monthly, has started picking up after stalling in the spring….

Unfortunately …. If European leaders don’t do something to figure out how to deal with the sovereign-debt euro crisis, this return to recovery could end quickly …. We need years of strong growth to reduce unemployment, cure the cyclical and structural unemployment crises, and reduce households’ crushing levels of debt.

Last night, Democrats in the Senate tried to pass a simple piece of President Obama’s jobs plan that shouldn’t be controversial: provide money to prevent further layoffs of teachers, cops, and firefighters at the local level, and pay for it by taxing the income of millionaires an extra 0.5%.

This morning a lot of media outlets reported that the Senate “rejected” or “voted down” this proposal.

But that’s not what happened. The measure didn’t come to an actual vote.

That’s because every single Republican senator filibustered the bill — meaning they wouldn’t even let an up-or-down vote happen. Republicans have unilaterally decided not to allow even that simple majority vote on anything that might help the economy before the next election.

To be clear: This bill would have created jobs, and both parties have supported similar measures in the past.

But, sadly, some in the Congress do not feel any responsibility to act. As someone who has spent a lot of time working in and with the Senate, I can tell you that it’s a particularly low moment for the legislative branch of our government.

It doesn’t need to be this way. That’s why the President and our campaign are focused on fixing what’s broken in Washington. Right now, that means we’re going to keep the pressure on Congress to act, until every single piece of the President’s jobs plan — the parts to help veterans find jobs and get small businesses hiring more people — gets a vote.

So please, reach out and keep reaching out to Senator Mitch McConnell, the Republican leader in the Senate, and ask him to give each piece of the American Jobs Act a fair vote.

You can reach his office at (202) 224-2541.

Call now — then let us know how it went.

If you’re on Twitter, be sure to tweet at your Republicans in Congress as well.

Listened to Thom Hartmann in car while I was out and about. He also made the point that every single media outlet had the ticker saying “the senate” blocked the Jobs Act, making it sound like an equal number of Dems blocked it, or at least a substantial number. It would have been more truthful to say the Republicans blocked it. The AP story I saw said 3 Democrats voted no, presumably unaware that nutty Liebermann is not a Dem. Lots of misleading news still being thrown out there. And ——Hartmann, who has tended to hang with the PL in the past said this today: he thinks President Obama has the potential to be a great president. That’s a pretty big turnaround, and I’ll take it, grateful for anyone who comes around, even belatedly, because we are going to need all hands on deck.

But even then….There has to be reasonable republicans out there who would rather vote for someone they hate but is competent versus someone they maybe like and is not even fit to be poop scooper. Jeez Louise

Thank you so much, 57andFemale, for speaking the absolute TRUTH! I really thought Democrats had wised up when they stack with Bill Clinton, despite the fact that he was a conservative Democrat. But when the so called purity progressives turned against Al Gore, I was totally infuriated. Sadly, it seems that the same “holier than thou” faction of the Democratic party is doing exactly the same to President Obama. You are absolutely right: “This has been our problem for over 40 years.” We, the so called Democrats, just can’t wait to eat our own. If it isn’t the blue dogs, it’s the purity left, that have absolutely no qualms about undermining the Democratic party.

Jon Huntsman is smarmy and petty and as fraudulent as every other GOP candidate out there…

It was evident that Chris Matthews kept cutting him off before Huntsman could stick his foot in his mouth and lose his fake “nice” guy bona fides that his father’s phony “progressive” friends like Michael Moore and the rest keep wanting to bestow on him undeservedly…

Chris wouldn’t let him finish off any of his responses that exposed him as the small- minded, jealous, petty, badly rehearsed, shallow, entitled, wannabe he so transparently is…

He even employs the “Democrat” party slur that rush Limbaugh loves… And when a guy like Huntsman who desperately wants to be cast as a sensible “moderate” grasps at silly slurs that, it pretty much tells you all you need to know…

That little thing with Chris Matthews and Jon Huntsman was really weird…with Matthews praising a clearly unimpressive and undeserving Huntsman for being everything he just showed however briefly, he wasn’t…

I suspect that Chris Matthews’ rather quick cut off’s and blunting of Huntsman’s rather petty, shallow responses was to go along with whatever promise or favor Matthews made to Tom Ridge to positively promote Huntsman…

I strongly suspect that Chris Matthews quickly realized that contrary to all the hullabaloo, up close and personal, Huntsman was pretty unimpressive…

It was particularly evident in Chris’ parting remarks…praising him for his stint as Utah governor etc…

Listening closer to Chris Matthews in his personification of inside the beltway D.C old-timer speakenese, it was clear that that was indeed a final goodbye sucker, you won’t cut it…but I’ve got to stay nice and gushing to satisfy my GOP friends and brother…

I’m not sure he’s just going for 2016. He has focussed on New Hampshire, where retail politics is so important. He’s having some success apparently. He’s flying under the radar, letting Romney, Perry, Cain destroy themselves and each other. Media has left him alone now while there’s enormous scrutiny on Romney who keeps putting his foot in his mouth.

I think Huntsman hopes to do the same thing in NH that Barack Obama did in Iowa: put a dent in the “inevitability” factor of the supposed front runner. And since Huntsman is a media darling, a victory or a 2nd , 3rd place in New Hampshire would be the perfect excuse for the media to promote him 24/7. I remember the media making Huckabee a serious contender in a very short time when they were talking about him EVERY SINGLE DAY.

The 2008 democratic primary has demonstrated that the candidate who’s considered “inevitable” is NOT inevitable. Right ?

Lovepolitics2008 – I don’t trust Huntsman either and I’ve long suspected that the media would have liked him to be a candidate. However, when comparing Huntsman in 2011 with Obama in 2007, keep in mind that by June of 2007 Senator Obama was usually in SECOND place in the polls (with at least 20%).

Here is survey of NH Democratic primary voters in September of 2007. If you note carefully, in this survey President Obama was mostly in second place (page 3) , and FIRST place in 2 key areas (likeability and favorable vs. Unfavorable; see pages 4-5). When Huntsman is first on any primary poll in these two areas among Republican voters, then we will have reason to be concerned….until then, I would refrain from comparing him with Obama.

Don’t even worry about it Dorothy, when Karma is finally done with Jon Huntsman, it will be incredibly humiliating for him and satisfying for us…

And contrary to some of the speculation, Huntsman still won’t cut it in 2016…

He is so done…

A smarmy opportunist who showed his incredibly poor judgement by not only feeding into the flattery of a few, but falling feet first and stupidly buying into his own hype…

And no, there will be no sudden surges in the poll for Huntsman as someone suggests above…

Unlike Huntsman, Barack Obama was and continues to be an intrinsically brilliant, revolutionary, unique, evolved, but most importantly an inspiring and consistently authentic human being with a political rise that truly exemplified the great American story – not bought with daddy’s money…

It is interesting that people in Iowa etc. haven’t taken up their pitchforks against Jon Huntsman who continues to deride them as stupid and easily purchased for a keg of beer and Randy Travis…

In Jon Huntsman’s entitled, snotty mind, the lowly Iowans didn’t vote for him because they are stupid…

Let’s hope he still thinks as highly of the people of New Hampshire after they too reject him even without the bribery of beer and music by Travis…

You are correct Chi. I believe some on the left thought that Huntsman would appeal to Edwards and (possibly Hillary supporters), and that he would suddenly bring extreme-right Republicans to the center. But people are more complex than that.

Chipsticks I absolutely concur. Hopefruit you’re right. I saw Former Congressman and Veteran of the Iraq war Patrick Murphy on the live edition of Hardball and I’m watching the repeat because he was phenomenal. He, like PBO opposed the Iraq war but still served the country. He vociferously thanked President Obama for the outcome of the Libya situation and for getting us out of the dumb war that was Iraq. He echoed the President’s words that the veterans will need healthcare, jobs, mental healthcare, houses, education. He thanked FLOTUS and SLOTUS in such a sweet manner for their Joining Forces work and thanked PBO for the updated GI Bill that helps veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. He lambasted Mitt Romney so beautifully for speaking out of his ass when releasing the stupid statement that said by pulling out of Iraq recklessley, PBO has made America and the troops unsafe. He lambasted the repugs in congress for their empty platitudes and sucking up to troops but voting against a jobs bill that will provide jobs for our veterans. He said President Obama is the epitome of a real leader and he is proud to have him as his President. He was absolutely wonderful. I hope he wins the race for Attorney General in PA.

Thank you for recommending that vid from hardball with Patrick Murphy, hopefruit! That was RARE tv! I passed it on to Democrats For Progress. Patrick got a lot of good facts in there which translated into high praise ’cause Michelle, Dr Jill, and PBO are so Good at what they do.

Tweety was having a good day and even the National Journal guy couldn’t believe how the gops can’t give any acknowledge to a job well done to President Obama and they were both sickened by whichmitt’s stupid remarks today.

Ah, yes..a check on Corbett who wants to cheat so there’s no way PBO can win Pennslyvania. I take it that Murphy lost his Rep job in 2010 with all the hate and money pouring out from rove&koch. Wondering if they’re wishing they would have keep Patrick Murphy in?

Hopefriut2, former Congressman Paatrick Murphy of Pennsylvanis was wonderful. He paid a price for his vote and support of POB on the repeal of DADT. He stands up for his core principles, and that is rare in politics these days. He is an Iraqi war veteran. He was very generous in the manner in which he highly spoke of our troops coming home, and how POB has been true to the citizens of this nation on keeping his promise in bringing this war to an end.

He also continued to speak very highly of President Obama throughout the interview. I love that about him. He is now running for the Democratic State Attorney General . I hope he be able to secure all of the resources that he will need to have a very successsful victory in 2012. Great human being. May God richly bless him .One I would love to support.HZ

It was awesome. Murphy was awesome and what really amazed me is that Tweety didn’t interrupt him at all, so we got to hear all that wonderful support for President Obama. I hope Murphy runs again, does anyone know if he is going to?

Jackie, I pray that he will win the AG position. I remember watching him when the President was signing a bill , and President thanked him so much and the President said that he knew that so of the members of Congress made a tough vote that might cost them, and Patrick Murphy was one of those who did have to pay the cost. However, I do believe that there is a beautiful gift waiting for him for his passion in what he believed in about the bill that he voted on, and well as his respect for his fellow service members. He certainly shows a great respect for POB.

We will pray for God’s great blessing for he and his wife and two children. I just have a great feeling of goodness about this young man.HZ

Hmm… Alex Wagner is getting an anchor position on MSNBC. She’ll have a show from 12pm ET – 1PM ET everyday. I know she used to work at politics usa??? and now works for Huff Po. She’s ok most of the time in calling out repugs and speaking truth, but sometimes she behaves like a PL by repeating the Obama is not strong enough meme, or he isn’t standing up to republicans meme. It’s a wait and see moment for now.

I’ve seen the emoprogs quiet as of late. Since President Obama has been calling out McTurtle, Orange Boner and the Republicans, as well as toppling dictators… Lady Jane, Glenwald, Tavis, Waters, they’ve ALL been quiet. Heck I haven’t even heard from Ralph Nader and his quest to find “primary candidates” against the President.

It’s my belief that the President timed all of these actions (minus Gadaffi’s death of course, but I believe his Iraq announcement was timed well after that) to silence ALL of his critics. The only whining I hear from the emobaggers on HuffPo is that they MADE him do all of these things, as per usual🙄 and also HuffFluff had a thread about how Steve Jobs told President Obama he was heading to be a one term President.

She’s okay enough. The thing I don’t like about most of these PL types as commentators is their need to always be in snark mode — everything is always beneath them, everything is addressed with a side of sarcasm or smart alecky-ness. Like they’re soooooo entertaining, dahling, as they talk amongst themselves — the same people talking to each other on all their shows. Even when they have something substantive to say, they say it with their nose in the air.

Sometimes I get the feeling that Alex Wagner likes looking at herself on the video screen. She has a tendency to drift in and out of consistency. I’ve seen her on Rev Al’s show and he’s had to re-direct her back to the issue.

Poor Alex has really begun to think she’s smarter and savvier than President Obama…

Turns out that a desk job at Arianna Huffington’s rag instantly qualifies and gives a random nobody such insight into how one should lead the world and a sense of how to do the incredible job of President of the United States…

House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) abruptly canceled his speech on income inequality scheduled for this afternoon at the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. Although there is dispute over why Cantor canceled his speech, it’s likely that he was afraid of facing a dissident audience at a public event. A variety of local community groups including Occupy Philly, Americans United for Change, Philadelphia AFL-CIO, Fight for Philly, SEIU PA State Council, Protect Your Care, Keystone Progress, Moveon.org, NCPSSM, Progress Now, and AFSCME that were set to protest Cantor decided to rally without his presence. Hundreds of protesters marched into the Wharton School and chanted, “Eric Cantor You Can’t Hid, Eric Cantor We’re Inside!” Watch it:

Let our voices be heard, and also get out to vote in 2012 and send Canter, Boehner, and those radical Republicans to the unemployment line, and those trader Dems too. Thank goodness Joe Lieberman is retiring. Connecticut deserve better than him.

Whichever “journalist” starts this kind of BullStank on Twitter, please remind them that GWB signed SOFA (December 2008) and locked in December 31, 2011 as the departure date. Let’s keep hitting them with the facts exactly like you did, forus50.

TBH I really don’t know, but I saw this recently uploaded by RT because I subscribed to their channel, and I thought I would post because I think ol Corny is getting a huge serving of karma for being an emoprog critic of President Obama.

Hiya Nin. The stop and frisk protest in NY is about crooked cops who stop and frisk a huge number of African-Americans and other minorities to some extent; but mostly African-Americans for no probable cause. It’s like driving while black; which is so prevalent in many states in the union. The cops say the black person they stopped and frisked/searched was acting “suspiciously” so that’s their probable cause. Rev Al talked about it today on Morning Joe and it is something he is looking into. It’s very racially driven and disgusting.

I suppose Corny will once again label this as a plight against President Obama and yet another reason of the gazillion reasons on the Emoprog List of how President Obama is ignoring the plight of African Americans and why he needs a primary challenger.

No, he’ll demand that President Obama come up to New York and ghetto slap the offending police officers to validate his black bona fides…

And even that still wouldn’t satisfy him…

This while he and Russell Simmons continue to worship at the feet of Michael Bloomberg…

That’s how it works in the loopy, green-eyed monster world where hypocrites like Cornell West and Russell Simmons dwell…

Rail against President Obama while kissing the butt of Michael Bloomberg – the Mayor whose job it is to oversee and correct problems like this in his City…

They ought to push Bloomberg…it should keep Bloomberg busy enough actually doing his job as opposed to trying so desperately to play act his little make believe, mimicking and so desperately wanting to be half as relevant and important as President Obama…

However, to clarify, cops don’t even need probable cause to stop and frisk. If they are simply doing a Terry stop, then all they need is reasonable suspicion – much lower standard than probable cause. That’s been on the books for many years. It’s such a low standard that all they need to say is that the person was acting suspicious…looking around, fidgting, etc.

I was watching Ed too and could barely stand seeing Cornel West bash PBO when Ed asked him if he supported him. I was very upset with Ed for letting him go on and on especially when he could have countered the early Obama complaints with a simple answer about needing to get the economy back under control and getting the ACA through. West’s opinion of why he didn’t support Obama was totally unrealistic.

Chips, I have come to say thank you for whatever you have done to this site. It has been several days since a diary has frozen up on my android. It is wonderful. I don’t know if it was you or an update on my android. Whichever I am very happy!
It’s been a great 2 days!

Y’all are right about Patrick Murphy on Hardball. I’m only watching because you all gave the heads up. Mr. Murphy is amazing — he is telling the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth re: Iraq, Khadaffi, and the rightness of our President, and the wrongness of McCain and other republican cowards. He is so good that Tweety was quiet for a whole 2 minutes while he was talking.

Patrick is a doll. I love him. He supports President Obama all the time. I hope he gets the Attorney General job. He is an outstanding public servant. I still can’t get over his work in getting DADT passed. He is a remarkable young man.

Meta, I just wrote a reply to Jackie’s comment above, and here is your comment which is exactly what I remembered about him. I can see it so vividly in my mind as I read your comment. The wonderful spirits within this TOD family are just beautiful. Chips spirit has helped create such a beautiful group here.

I am so grateful for your information along with so many others. I read a lot, but I still have not reached the know how of getting a link here. But I will count on all of the beautiful more gifted ones such as yourself to do that. So thank you so much, Meta. HZ

Ratigan is a rightwinger who used to work for Wall Street or the Fed… either way, his “Get The Money Out of Politics” gimmick is a scheme to promote himself just like Cain’s “999/666/909/000/whatever triple number” plan is a scheme to promote himself. I enjoyed the vid Chips posted of Ed kicking Ratigan’s rude and disrespectful ass after the one President Obama presser.

I used to watch (and like) Ratigan years ago when he hosted a show on CNBC. Not sure why, because I’m really not into finance or economics. But he had a roundtable of guests on, which were very interesting. However, he seemed like a real “player” and there was a much younger woman on the show that he positively “coveted” – it was obvious to me, anyway. Not sure if he ever got in any hot water over that or not, but I think that was the job he lost, and then the NBC powers that be gave him another chance on MSNBC. Since then, he has been the most nasty commentator around. Either he thinks he should have been the rising star he thought he was over on CNBC, or something else happened, but he oozes rage. My take, anyway, since I haven’t watched him in eons because of the big change in him.

I think his lying about his parent’s migration date is an even bigger issue than his voice at this point. There is absolutely NO WAY that Rubio could have been mistaken about whether his parents arrived in the US 2 years pre or 2 years post Castro. As has been said, political unrest is something his parents would have spoken about if they had experienced it first-hand, no way they would flee communism and not have anything to say about their experiences. So he knowingly misrepresented his family immigrant history for political benefit.

Well, now we must remenber Folks that, that’s what most Repubs do. They are usually Big Liars, If I meet someone that says, that they are a Repub, I’m gonna run just like I saw a mean Snake😦 Baaaad news!! They have made a negative name for themselves In so many, many ways.

I agree…just being shallow. Everytime I hear him talk, though, I just can’t stand his voice. However, you’re right, lying about his parents’ migration to the country is a bigger issue.

Another issue is that video Ed Schultz showed a few months ago whereby Rubio was praising Medicare as something that has saved his parent’s life, and then the next day, saying it is a terrible program that needs to end. The guy is all show, no substance.

That Medicare flip flop is the one that disgusts me. He ended up by saying it “morally bankrupted” the country. Wonder if he would have paid the full medical bills for his mother and father, if they weren’t on Medicare. (Realize that was a snarky personal comment on my part, but he made it personal for me.)

Why are people so willing to accept that Rubio knew about this? I don’t get it. Where’s the proof he knew? We hold other people to a high standard of proof, but we’re willing to accuse people of knowing things when we have no proof. Parents lie to their children. Parents tell stories about their backgrounds to make themselves look better or to fit in all the time. They lie to cover things up about their families. How do we know Rubio’s parents didn’t lie to him? Or fabricate their own circumstances to fit in with the Cuban culture in Florida? I don’t know anything about Rubio beyond what I read here, but honestly, on this one topic, until someone proves to me beyond a shadow of a doubt that Rubio is the one who fabricated this story, he is innocent in my book.

Tien Le it is possible that they lied – however, it seems curious that there would have been no conversations with his parents or no other informal conservations from relatives’ in his parents generation about that issue – particularly if it was an issue that was high in his consciousness – high enough that he made it the basis of his political platform. Don’t you think there would have been some deep questions about what their experiences were? This wasn’t just a private family incident – it was a publicly known historical event of considerable international significance that affected all the residents of Cuba at the time. Something doesn’t add up here.

You could be right, I just don’t know for sure. His wiki has this quote: His parents emigrated to the United States in 1956 and became exiles after Castro came to power three years later.[7] They became naturalized U.S. citizens in 1975.
Maybe everyone who immigrated from Cuba was considered an exile, since they couldn’t go back to Cuba. Maybe his parents (his father died last year) felt like exiles because they were cut off from the country of their origin. Maybe the whole family felt like exiles. We can’t know what they felt or how they viewed themselves. What I do know is that family mythologies about origins get pretty ingrained in people and are stubbornly held believes. Even in the face of contrary evidence.
I discovered recently that I had first cousins that I never knew existed because my mother never told me she had a half-brother. When I told these cousins that their grandfather was a mean drunk, they refused to believe it because he was never that way around them. Even when I showed them the divorce papers that proved it, they still remain in denial. Families hide things, embellish the truth, etc. I just can’t bring myself to judge this guy for advancing his family mythology.

Tien Le – Rubio said his brother came to the US when he was 6 years old. And his brother was born in 1950. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that his parents didn’t come after the revolution. Plus, his website still had the wrong information up even after he found out the truth. There are multiple documents with the correct dates for his parent’s immigration records. There’s really no excuse for someone in public life not to do the basic research, and to know such a significant detail that is so consequential to his acceptance in Florida.

Remember the GOP budget plan put forward by junior high congressman Paul Ryan? You know, the plan that would effectively gut Medicare by turning it into a voucher system that throws senior citizens to the private health insurance wolves? Yeah, that plan. Well, Mitt Romney agrees with that plan and he wants to add cuts to Social Security to it.

In an interview with the Las Vegas Review Journal earlier this week, Romney pandered to conservatives who are obsessed with killing the federal government and allowing sick and poor people to die. Romney offered a plan strikingly similar to the aforementioned Ryan Plan, except in his plan, Romney would add Social Security cuts on top of destroying Medicare and Medicaid. Romney rejects applying the payroll tax to all income, and instead wants to raise the retirement age and “slow down” benefits.

I am in Representative Sean Duffy’s district in Wisconsin – previously held by the phenomenal David Obey. He must be getting bad news and rather desperate because we’re getting two-three mailing a week for him — and robocalls as well – one YEAR before he is up for re-election!

The last one, today, had me burning so hotly I called his office and basically yelled (messages only). It is mailed from an organization called American Action Network, 555 13th St. NW, Suite 510W, Washington, D.C. Now, I hardly doubt that it is an organization that represents the 99%.

This is a large fold-over color brochure. We do some direct mailing — and I KNOW these are NOT cheap.

On the outside it says: President Obama’s Medicare Plan: Balance the Budget on the Backs of Seniors! Then in smaller letters: Congressman Sean Suffy is Fighting to Protect Medicare for Wisconsin’s Seniors. On the mailing label is says the same in a side-bar along with “Paid for by the American Action Network http:americanactionnetwork.org — follow us on Facebook: http:www.facebook.com/AmericanActionNetwork

On the inside (really slick….!) it says: Obama’s Medicare Plan Will Increase Medicare Premiums (http://politics.nytimes.com/congress/votes/1112/house/1/277) It continues: The Medicare Prescription Drug Program has become one of the most successful and efficient government benefit programs in history. America’s seniors depend on it each and every day. President Obama is trying to radically change the Medicare Prescription Drug Program with Medicaid-style price controls. For seniors who depend on Medicare, the impact of Obama’s price controls would be devastating. *Medicare prescription drug premiums for millions of seniors would increase by as much as $208 per year *Annual costs for almost 18 million seniors wouldl increase by as much as $208 per year *Total out-of-pocket drug costs for seniors and other Medicare beneficiaries would increase by up to $3.7 billion per year (http://bit.ly/MedicarePartD)

Below the fold it continues: Wisiconsin seniors can count on Congressman Sean Duffy to stand up against the Obama Medicare plan. Thank Congressman Sean Duffy for standing up for seniors and fighting to protect and preserve Medicare. Call Congressman Sean Duffy at 1-866-644-5429. Thank Him for Protecting Wisconsin Seniors. Urge Him to Keep Fighting to Preserve the Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Benefit.

I called the number – it was the switchboard of Congress, not his number. I was transferred to his office and was so angry I was almost incoherent. I have to get myself under better control before I call again.

Give him a piece of your mind Vicky and let him know that you are aware of his false advertising and that you will be closely following his voting pattern on the issues that matter greatly to you like the AJA and that he should be concerned about how you will be voting next year.

It’s okay Vicky. I once had the dubious pleasure of calling Boehner’s office on a weekend and left him voicemail. I didn’t know how enraged I was until I got into my message, and I actually started crying. Maybe because it was the Weeper of the House’s voicemail, but it came as a surprise to me and I had to work on calming down after that. Hang in there! And, of course, press on!

Wow, they’re really afraid of the kill medicare votes they took if they’re starting this early with their disinformation campaign. Anyone who voted against Medicare this year will be using a similar tactic.

I like the encouraging economic news. I have had the feeling that things are improving. Just my personal anecdotal evidence, but I noticed this week that 3 new big stores have opened at my fave shopping center, and locally previous empty storefronts are starting to fill up again. And everywhere we go, it’s busy! I mean really busy. People are out doing something! We were in Chgo last weekend visiting my daughter and other visiting family, and the streets and stores and restaurants were packed in all the ethnic neighborhoods we drove through. We thought it was interesting that there was a beauty/barber shop on every block and they were all doing a great business on Sat. night! Restaurants everywhere are packed. Stores seem to be more bustling, parking lots full. This is just stuff I notice now, much more encouraging everywhere I look than it was a few months ago. But, the euro crisis does hang over everything and affects everything here now in this global world, so I am also hopeful they can find a resolution to all their problems there.

Thank you for posting this. The personal connection that I feel with President Obama is so powerful that sometimes it scares me. He is a remarkable human being. I don’t know how it would be possible to love him any more than I do. I still marvel at the fact that I am living to see this amazing man as my president. I feel truly blessed.

Ladyhawke, I unashamedly feel the same way. I feel close to him, and that is highly unusual for a public personality whom I’ve only seen but not formally met. I pray for him, think about him each and everyday, and he is THE reason I am online as often as I am. Otherwise, I’d be at YouTube for entertainment😀

Your personal feelings with these personal connections that you feel, Ladyhawke can be understood by me, and I am sure all of us here at TOD because POB is such a remarkable President.

I have always been moved when I see this video about his ten letters. I will share this with you, if you do not mind, Chips. I just purchased the new book ,”Ten Letters:The Stories Americans Tell Their President”, by Eli Saslow. It is an excellent book. You might want to get it, if you so choose. I just love researching and finding interesting books by others as those close to POB to purchase and read and leave for my great niece who has her Masters in Sociology and loves politics and -debating.

I love the energy and thought behind the President making this a part of his daily connection to the people, so I decided to get some beautiful covered journals(I love journals) and start writing a “Thank You To My President.” I am on my second journal now. I choose something that God has blessed President Obama to accomplish during the day, week, etc. I hope that these will give my great nieces something to appreciate about this President long after I am gone from this earth.

We have truly been given such a beautiful gift in President Obama, Joe Biden, Michelle, and Dr. Biden. Let us enjoy and give thanks, because the opposition and the unkind, and even hateful spirits surrounding him will tend to discourage us many times during this journey. We just saw that last evening. However, look what a blessing we were given today in his announcement. That is my connection to our President, First Lady, Vice President, and Second Lady. We are blessed. HZ

I admit to feeling so strongly in support of President Obama that I keep the photo I was sent in the new year from the first family as a supporter in a frame on my entry table. My kids have joked about I don’t have any family photos in my livingroom. I counter that with their photos are in three other rooms of my house.
I painted two different paintings of him for the 2008 campaign sending the original watercolors to the Obama headquarters. I made the paintings into postcards, handwrote 700 postcards on why I supported Obama and put stamps on them and send them to the Postcards for America group that addressed them and sent them out. I really appreciated being involved in that campaign as it was a use for my talent and I could help get him elected. I have a bad knee so could not walk and knock on doors. Phoning made me nervous so I found my niche. I sent a couple of postcards of their dad to Malia and Sasha too.

I can understand that Obama Grandmama(I’m one too). I got a black & white pic in the mail recently of the Prez saying “I value your ongoing support”..and I stuck it right by laptop because actually I value his ongoing support just as much.

I gotta admit that when I was in high school, I’d hurry home to see President Kennedy’s humorous press conferences on our black and white TV (now, that’s old!), but haven’t felt that way since. Until PBO.

Hahaha…..I was doing a crossword on my way home from work tonight, and one of the definitions was “devils doings”. I couldn’t help crossing out “devil” and writing “rethug” over it.😀 I feel nothing but contempt for that label, and this is sad in itself. Of course the answer to the question was that four letter word “evil”.

I’m sorry, but I’m finding this OWS to be weirder and weirder every week. I’ve been seeing more and more random videos of people making good points, but are a little out there in their delivery or in what their point it. Like the soldier who was freaking out at the police. It was admirable, but it was a little over the top. And this protest porn guy was a little much too. I’m really hoping the OWS movement has some kind of real victory soon, or a tangible objective to get behind because I’m losing interest in following how big the numbers are, or which new star is seen in the large groups.

Well I think he – the soldier- was just very incensed at seeing police go after folks who were unarmed.. etc. I sensed from him a true anger and a righteousness about having served.. and no doubt killed- human beings in the belief that he was preserving our rights here at home.. including the rights of American citizens to protest without fear of being harmed. That, I felt was very understandable coming from his perspective. He made me cry.

I was also very moved by his words and recognize he has the right to be furious. I just thought he was really coming unhinged toward the end. I know the rage is real but it was a bit frightening to watch.

I see on twitter (CNN) that the Obama admin. has released a statement asking that Saleh of Yemen step down NOW. Man oh man, they’re not foolin’ around.
Also love the statement on Romney, that his foreign policy experience is limited to his work as a finance executive who shipped American jobs overseas.

Saleh and Assad should be getting mighty nervous right now. The Yemenis and Syrians want them gone and it looks like eventually they will be. The Arab Spring is no joke. People are tired of tyrannous dictatorship. They want a government of the people, by the people, and for the people.

The statement the Obama campaign released about Romney was funny as heck.

If every American would buy a book of “Forever” stamps every time we think of it, even if we pile them up, that might help somewhat. One good thing – I was purchasing a greeting card the other day and noticed Hallmark was selling them already imprinted with postage. Now, maybe that’s been around for a while or maybe I didn’t pick up on it earlier because I’m just suddenly concentrating on the Post Office situation, but I thought that was really cool of Hallmark.

I would love to see the Post Office “saved,” so more and more local sites aren’t closed on President Obama’s watch.

Of course, the real problem is that the Post Office has been forced by Congress to deposit billions (I think) of retirement dollars into their system way ahead of when the funds are needed (I’m not describing that accurately, but think you all know the situation). Maybe I’ll try to remember to do a little research on getting that law repealed … the Postal Service is also putting out ads all over the place to get the real word out to folks, so that should help.

In 2006 Congress passed a bill that have the Postal Service prefund the retiree’s health plan, therefore it placed an unncessary financial burden. Darrell Issa is behind this bill. I think so where along the way he has taken this personally.They are trying to kill the Postal Service. My opinion is that if they succeed they will try to privatize it and allow Fed Ex to get the first class portion of it and UPS to get the parcel post of it. It is in the Constitution to have a Post Office but I think it is very unfair to place this type of financial burden that you know that they will not be able to overcome.
Please call your congress person at the Capitol Hill switchboard at 202 224-3121 to oppose Congressman’s Issa’s H. R.2309. Thank you

I must admit, I have been trying to watch Olberman’s show since he moved to Current but I had to get him off my dvr today once and for all with no turning back. He started his show off criticizing PBO’s withdrawal from Iraq as “spin” because they were kicking us out. Who cares whether they were kicking us out or not? PBO is bringing our troops home. Also he is going overboard with OWS. He is obssessed with it and Michael Moore.

Keith Olbermann is an arrogant blowhard, like most of the emoprog left. He became unwatchable when his rants against the President went overboard and I especially disliked the manner in which he attacked Bristol Palin. I dislike her as much as everyone else does, but Olbermann was childish in his attacks. All Olbermann wants to do is be an armchair quarterback… he has fallen from the time he actually did those free healthcare clinics. His viewership is down and I guess he thinks that ranting against the President is the way to get viewers.

As for Michael Moore, fuck him for saying that he voted for black Obama and got white Obama instead. I hear he’s a Ron Paul fan, some “liberal” he turned out to be.😡

Nintendowii10 What do you expect from Keith Olbermann after all Living in TRUMP TOWERS has it’s perks and it has rubbed off from the DONALD you know. These are the reasons I always watch those that talk loud and say nothing.

I agree with both of you. I will watch Granholm when her show starts. I also noticed that Russell Simmons was on KO’s show one day and he was paying complements to PBO and KO totally glossed over what he was saying and did not want to talk about it. Obviously he didn’t realize that a lot of his viewers were “Obamabots” like us and started catering totally to the PL.🙂

The people who claim that the US was kicked out – the question I have for them is: “Can you tell me precisely WHEN the Iraq government decided to kick us out?” See what their response is to that question.

Because I’ve heard this stupid argument from a few emoprogs (including RATigan) who seem quick to buy the MSM spin that the Iraqis declined to grant immunity to the remaining soldiers and therefore the President had no choice but to pull everyone out by 2011. So I want to know when exactly did the Iraq government decline to grant immunity…

Patrick Murphy was outstanding.. not just for all that he said, but because he meant it, he said it with his feelings evident. But I call hypocrite on Chris Matthews for lamenting why republicans can’t just give the win to POTUS such as in the Gaddafi end yesterday.. because Chris, you of the media fan the flames of the republican BS.. you eat it up and you multiply it- and you invite them back for more of the same.

Fair warning, the Media Matters post below is absolutely nauseating. But important to revisit. Because Tweety and too many pundits/gasbags/reporters would prefer we not point out how inept they were in questioning and reporting on the Iraq invasion.

As I recall, Tweety was all over President Bush like a cheap suit when the very premature “Mission Accomplished” stunt occurred. Media Matters refreshes everybody’s memory. Tweety is busted big time.

Mission Accomplished: A look back at the media’s fawning coverage of Bush’s premature declaration of victory in Iraq

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On May 1, 2003, President Bush landed on the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln aboard an S-3B Viking jet, emerged from the aircraft in full flight gear, and proceeded to “press[] flesh,” as The Washington Post put it, as he shook hands and hugged crew members in front of the cameras. Later that day, Bush delivered a nationally televised speech from the deck of the Abraham Lincoln in which he declared that “[m]ajor combat operations in Iraq have ended,” all the while standing under a banner reading: “Mission Accomplished.” Despite lingering questions over the continued violence in Iraq, the failure to locate weapons of mass destruction, and the whereabouts of Saddam Hussein, as well as evidence that Bush may have shirked his responsibilities in the Texas Air National Guard (TANG) during the Vietnam War, the print and televised media fawned over Bush’s “grand entrance” and the image of Bush as the “jet pilot” and the “Fighter Dog.”

Chief among the cheerleaders was MSNBC’s Chris Matthews. On the May 1, 2003, edition of Hardball, Matthews was joined in his effusive praise of Bush by right-wing pundit Ann Coulter and “Democrat” Pat Caddell. Former U.S. Rep. Robert K. Dornan (R-CA) also appeared on the program.:

thanks for that Ladyhawke.. in the beginning of the above Hardball video, Chris makes some comment (I’ll have to view it again to be accurate) about how he/others were duped/snowed (whatever word) in to Iraq. Well I call hooey on that too.. I KNEW Iraq was BS, Bush’s push to go there was founded on lies and crap merely so he could invade.. if little me (and a mulititude of others) was able to figure this out- INCLUDING One Barack Obama… why then was Mr. knowitall Chris Matthews unable to do so… surely the media has access to info I and others didin’t.
Because once again they were fronting for their pals the republicans.. they gave Bush megastar status and covered up his mayhem and BS for his entire presidency.. the same way they attack President Obama relentlessly.

I was working in Sydney, Australia when the Repubs were ramping up their insane invasion of Iraq, and I still have a bunch of video from the massive protests in the streets against the expected invasion of Iraq….in Australia! Before it even happened. Most of the world knew what they were doing, and history now shows we were correct on most every level of this. Chris Matthews saying he was fooled?!? What a friggin’ liar. You called it what it is…they are indeed “fronting for their pals.” Since the small handful of Billionaires decided to buy up all the MegaMedia, they make sure the people they pay to appear on their networks are with The Program. You got it, sherijr! It’s on purpose.

That has got to be one of the most assinine conversations ever relayed on the airwaves. They sound like a couple of kids sitting watching Saturday morning cartoons about their favorite superhero, replete with capes, masks, and their bowl of Trix. As PBO would say “He’s a jackass” !

Ladyhawke,
Thanks for that on C.M. He is truly B.U.S.T.E.D. Reading that piece tells me why he blows hot and cold when it comes to our President. He has this image of a tough guy, alpha male, Rocky type in his head. He is really naive, fanciful, and slippery. This answered lots of questions. Thanks again.

This Rubio discovery could not happen to a better person (rat). I always thouht that he was way out of his league, voting against the interest of lot of the elderly in Florida and flipfloping on his SS policy. He deserves everything he gets.

Hopefruit2 The reason you see Andrea Mitchell on so much they trying make out as a saint now with Breast Cancer thing she is or has been going through.I’m not speaking bad of her but that is the way they dress up things to keep the ratings up.It is the same way they don’t do a lot of stories about her husband The Great Allen Greenspan x-head of the FED.Reserve.

SORRY, MITCH MCCONNELL IS JUST TOO BUSY TO TAKE YOUR CALL, TRY AGAIN LATER

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Why You Can’t Reach Mitch McConnell Right Now

Today the mean old Obama campaign told the American people to get on the phone and call little Lord Mitchy, in order to ask him why he won’t even allow a vote on the jobs bill. They wanted to hear from us after we made the call – how did it go, they wondered?

Since I have been dispatched to bed by fate but am finally feeling well enough to hit “call”, I had all day to try to call Mitch. All day, I tell you. But Mitch must be super important because his phone was busy. Forever busy.

So, I can’t really let the Obama campaign know how my call went because as usual, I couldn’t speak to the man making decisions for the entire country via petulant obstructionism from his Senate bunker at Fox News. We must be kind to little Lord Mitch, though. After all, the President has shown up the Republicans again with Libya and naturally, we must all pay for their painful but persistent cognitive dissonance screaming that they just might be, in fact, both incompetent and dangerously, expensively wrong about many things.

I received the email too Ladyhawke and got a continuous busy signal from little Lord Mitchy time after time, so I figured they must have busied up all the phone lines to prevent us from getting through.

Lawrence O’Donnell is giving me chills right now. He is going back to Barack Obama the young senator that was opposed to “DUMB WARS”. His remarks were prescient. He was ahead of his time. Lawrence is chronicling what has transpired from that time to today when now President Obama is announcing the end of the Iraq war. This is really a powerful segment. I hope Chips will post this tomorrow. Everyone needs to see this. Especially, Lawrence’s colleagues in the media (like Tweety).

What Barack Obama has that so many politicians don’t is a knowledge of history, an understanding of different cultures, and an understaning of human nature. And most of all, PATIENCE and WISDOM. That’s why he gets so many things right in foreign policy.

(He would be phenomally successful in domestic politics too if he was operating in a parliamentary system, where he would really control the agenda. It’s absolutely admirable that he has had many legislative successes in a system where his power is limited and where institutions like the GOP and the MSM are in very bad shape.)

Just saw Scott Pelley do a piece about Operation Proper Exit, a program for soldiers suffering from PTSD. They go back to Iraq to try and deal with their trauma, part of a healing process to help them let go. Scott did an interview with a young soldier in extreme PTSD. So moving and so incredibly sad. But it’s so good to know they’re getting treatment. You could see that Scott could barely hold it together during the interview as the young man recalls the source of his trauma. I think there will be a segment on this on 60 Minutes.

Sometimes I watch the evening news to catch up, especially if there’s a good chance it won’t be PBO in the news for their usual bashfest. I used to watch BriWi but then the whole thing really started turning me off. The reporters they feature, the equivocating about responsibility for this mess we’re in, the phony concern trolling. It just got on my nerves. Then when Scott Pelley started his broadcast on CBS I decided to tune in because I’ve always like him on 60 Minutes. For the most part, he’s done a very good job so far. Usually pretty balanced and professional whenever I’ve tuned in. Another thing I like is that he tends to go into greater depth in his stories, which I appreciate. I’ll watch as long as he maintains those standards.

USAA really bothers me, thats my insurance of course and that of most/many vets and service people and their families.. my whole family uses and has used USAA for about 20 years. Unbelievable that list, very troubling.

So far I only have to boycott Walgreens. There goes my Red Bird large bucket of peppermint, but I need to let them go anyway. Also, I will write them and let them know why I am boycotting. Thanks much !

I have really been spiteful to my face. Lawd have Mercy AT&T, State Farm, International Paper, Walgreens, Shell, Visa, Kraft,Johnson and Johnson. Sad about USAA because it is a good product for a lot service persons.

Haven’t been communicating for sometime but I do check out what you guys are up to everyday. So I’m definitely informed.

When I heard the great news President Obama unveiled today about the troops going back home to the US this video came to mind and I thought it was a fitting tribute to the men and women in uniform and their families that have endured so much.

God bless you for all the great work you are doing through this site/blog. You are amazing!

I’m watching David Letterman (whom I believe is a true supporter of our President) and he was joking about Halloween. He said the bad news is that our country is having a pumpkin shortage. Then added, “Thanks a lot, President Obama!”

He gets the ol’ blame game usually pulled on THE BEST PRESIDENT IN THE WORLD! (Too much?)